Kent, WA vs Renton, WA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Renton, WA outspends Kent, WA by a wide margin per resident — $16,868 versus $10,491, a 61% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Renton, WA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 75/100 (grade B) against 57/100 (grade C) for Kent, WA — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Renton, WA carries the lighter load at $211 per resident versus $905 for Kent, WA. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Kent, WA leads with parks and recreation at $1,448 per resident, while Renton, WA leads with police at $2,978.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 49% of total revenue in Kent, WA and 20% in Renton, WA.
Summary
Renton spends 37.8% more per capita than Kent ($6,377/person difference). Renton, WA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $31 |
| Sales Tax | $272 | $377 |
| Income Tax | $89 | $2,146 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,884 | $792 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,797 | $1,771 |
| Other | $4,935 | $4,728 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $413 | $2,978 |
| Fire Protection | $292 | $753 |
| Highways & Roads | -$10 | $90 |
| Public Welfare | $850 | $1,270 |
| Health | $0 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $207 | $496 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,448 | $1,288 |
| Housing | $3,476 | $3,801 |
| Sewerage | $36 | $39 |
| Utilities | $1,474 | $3,428 |
| Interest on Debt | $1 | $0 |
| Other | $2,306 | $2,725 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.